John Shimkus

John Shimkus (21 February 1958-) was a member of the US House of Representatives (R-IL 20) from 3 January 1997 to 3 January 2003, succeeding Dick Durbin; from IL 19 from 3 January 2003 to 3 January 2013, succeeding David D. Phelps; and from IL 15 from 3 January 2013, succeeding Tim Johnson.

Biography
John Shimkus was born in Collinsville, Illinois in 1958, and he was on active duty in the US Army from 1980 to 1986 and in the reserve from 1986 to 2008; he rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1989, he was elected a Collinsville Township trustee, and he was elected Madison County treasurer a year later, the first Republican Party member elected to a countywide post in 10 years. In 1996, he was elected to the US House of Representatives.